Random Variables

and Probability
Distributions
Learning Objectives:
1. Define variable random variable;
2. Differentiate qualitative from quantitative
data; and
3. Classify variables as discrete and
continuous; and
4. Computes probabilities corresponding to a
given random variable.
Definition:

A VARIABLE is a
characteristic that is observable
or measurable in every unit of
the universe.
Definition:
Variables can be broadly classified as
either:
QUALITATIVE DATA express a
categorical attribute such as sex,
religion, marital status, region of
residence, highest educational
attainment, etc.
Definition:
QUANTITATIVE DATA (otherwise known as
numerical) answers the questions such as
“how many” and “how much”. It has actual
unit of measures. Examples of this type of
data include height, weight, total household
expenditure, etc. Quantitative data may be
further classified as Discrete and
Continuous.
Definition:
Quantitative data may be further
classified as:
DISCRETE RANDOM VARIABLE is one
that can assume only a countable
number of values. It is a random
variable whose possible values form a
finite or countable set of numbers.
Definition:
Quantitative data may be further
classified as:
CONTINUOUS RANDOM VARIABLE
can assume infinite number of values
in one or more intervals. A random
variable that can be measured.
 Distinguish if the given data
represents a quantitative or
qualitative variable. If it is
quantitative variable write if it
is discrete or continuous.
1. Age of mother. Quantitative Continuous
2. Usual number of
Quantitative Discrete
messages in the Facebook.
3. Number of buildings in Quantitative
Discrete
the school.
4. Gender of the head teachers Qualitative
in the school.
5. Most preferred color of ballpen.
Qualitative
Probabilities of
Random
Variables
Definition:
EXPERIMENT – is any activity
which can be done repeatedly
under similar conditions.
SAMPLE SPACE – the set of all
possible outcomes of an
experiment
 Listing method
EVENT SAMPLE SPACE Tree Diagram
2 coins are Fundamental
HH, HT, TH, TT Counting
tossed Principle

3 coins are HHH, HHT, HTH, HTT, THH,

tossed THT, TTH, TTT
HHHH, HHHT, HHTH, HHTT,
4 coins are HTHH, HTHT, HTTH, HTTT, THHH,
tossed THHT, THTH, THTT, TTHH, TTHT,
TTTH, TTTT
Definition:

Probability distribution
(a.k.a. Probability Mass Function) is a
listing of the possible values and the
corresponding probabilities of discrete
random variables.
Definition:
• A random variable is a result of chance in an
experiment or event, that you can measure
or count.
• A random variable is a numerical quantity
that is assigned to the outcome of an
experiment. It is a variable that assumes
numerical values associated with the events
of an experiment.
NOTE: We use capital letters to represent a random variable.
Definition:
The following are the properties of a
probability distribution:
❖The probability of each value of the
random variable must be between or equal
to 0 and 1.
❖The sum of the probabilities of all values
of the random variable must be equal to 1.
Definition:
To determine the values of the random variable in an
experiment, follow these steps:
1. Determine the sample space (possible outcome).
2. Determine the values of the random variable.
3. Make a Probability Distribution or Probability
Mass Function of Discrete Random Variable X.
4. Graph the given Probability Distribution
(Probability Histogram).
Example:
Suppose three coins are tossed and we
are interested to determine the number
of tails that will come out. Let us use T to
represent the number of tails that will
come out. Determine the values of
random variable T.
 Suppose three coins are tossed and we are interested to
determine the number of tails that will come out. Let us use
STEPS: T to represent the number of tails that will come out.
Determine the values of random variable T.
T T T
1. Determine T T H

T=
T HT
the sample T HH
space HT T
HT H
(possible HHT
outcome). HHH
 2. Determine the values of the random
STEPS: variable. Number of
Possible Value of Random Number of Probability
Occurrence
Outcomes Variable T Tails T P(T)
(number of tails)
(frequency)
1
TTT 3 3 1 or 0.125
8
TTH 2
3
THT 2 2 3 or 0.375
8
THH 1
3
HTT 2 1 3 or 0.375
8
HTH 1
1
HHT 1 0 1 or 0.125
8
HHH 0 𝟖
Total 8 𝟖
𝐨𝐫 𝟏
STEPS:
3. Make a Probability Distribution or
Probability Mass Function of Discrete
Random Variable T.
T 0 1 2 3
P(T) 0.125 0.375 0.375 0.125
STEPS: 4. Graph the given Probability Distribution
(Probability Histogram).
➢ Probability Histogram is a bar graph that displays
the possible values of a discrete random variable on
the horizontal axis and the probabilities of those
values on the vertical axis. 0.375
PROBABILITIES
OF GETTING A
TAIL

T 0 1 2 3 P(T) 0.125

P(T) 0.125 0.375 0.375 0.125 0 1 2 3

RANDOM VARIABLE (T)
 Number of What is the probability of
Number of Probability
Occurrence
Tails T
(frequency)
P(T) getting at least 1 tail?
3 1
1
8
or 0.125 0.875
3 What is the probability of
2 3 or 0.375
8 getting at most 2 tail?
3
1 3 8
or 0.375
0.875
0 1 1
8
or 0.125 What is the probability of
𝟖 getting at fewer than 2
Total 8 𝐨𝐫 𝟏
𝟖 tail? 0.500
Generalization
• How to identify the possible outcome of a random
variable?
• What are the step-by-step procedure on how to
construct and illustrate a probability distribution
for a discrete random variable?
• How to compute for the probabilities for a given
random variable using its distribution?
• How can we use this lesson in our daily life?
• For example, when they say there’s a "60%
chance of rain," they are summarizing a
probability distribution.
• Estimating travel times: Apps like Google
Maps use probability distributions to predict
how long it will take to reach a destination
considering varying traffic conditions.
Assessment
Solve for the missing value in the given in the
problem.
A basket contains 5 ripe and 2 unripe
bananas. If three bananas are taken
from the basket one after the other,
determine the possible values of the
random variable R representing the
number of ripe bananas.
Assessment
Number of
Possible Value of Random Number of Probability
Outcomes Variable R Occurrence
Ripe (R) P(R)
(number of Ripes) (frequency)

RRR 3
1
1 3 1 or 30.14
7
RRU 2
3
RUR 2 2 3 or 0.43
7
RUU 12
3
URR 2
1 3 or 0.43
7
URU 1 𝟕
𝐨𝐫 𝟏
UUR 1 Total 7 𝟕
4-5
Finding the MEAN, the
VARIANCE and the
STANDARD DEVIATION
of Discrete Probability
Distribution
Review
Identify the different symbol that will be used
inorder to calculate the mean, variance and
standard deviation.
𝜇 = mean
X = value of the random variable
P(X) = the probability value of the random
variable
σ^2 = variance
𝜎 = standard deviation
Learning Objectives:
1. Compute the mean, variance and
the standard deviation of a discrete
random variable.
2. Interpret the mean, and the
standard deviation of a discrete
random variable.
Definition:
The Mean of a Discrete
Probability Distribution
To find the mean ( μ) or the expected
value E(X) of a discrete probability
distribution, we use the following formula:
μ = E(X) = σ[X∙P(X)]
Formula:
μ = E(X) = σ[X∙P(X)]
where:
μ = mean
E(X) = Expected value
X = value of the random variable
P(X) = is the probability value of the
random variable
Formula: The Variance and the Standard
Deviation of a Discrete Probability Distribution
2 2 2
σ = σ[ X ∙P(X)] - μ
where:
𝜇 = mean σ= σ 2
X ∙ P(X) − μ2
X = value of the random variable
P(X) = the probability value of the random
variable
𝜎 2 = variance
𝜎 = standard deviation
 Steps in Solving
Step 1. Find the mean of the probability distribution.
Step 2. Square each value of the random variable and
multiply by the corresponding probability value [X 2 ∙
P(X)].
Step 3. Find the variance and the standard deviation by
applying the formula.
𝜎 2 = σ[ X 2 ∙P(X)] - 𝜇2
➢The standard deviation is computed by getting the
square root of the variance
Definition:
The mean or the expected value of a
probability distribution tells the value
of a random variable that is expected
to be obtained if the experiment is
done repeatedly.
Definition:
The standard deviation of a probability
distribution indicates how far, on the
average, an observed value of a random
variable X is from its mean.
The smaller the standard deviation, the
more likely that an observed value of the
random variable will be close to its mean.
Definition:

Interpreting the Variance and Standard

Deviation
The variance and its square root, the
standard deviation, measure the spread
or variability of data around the mean.
Definition:
Low Variance: The data points are
closely clustered around the mean,
indicating consistency or
predictability.
High Variance: The data points are
more spread out, showing greater
variability or unpredictability.
Definition:
Interpreting the Mean ( 𝜇 ) The mean
represents the "expected value" or the long-
term average of a random variable. It
provides insights into the central tendency of
the data.
Key Interpretation: The mean gives a general
idea of what to expect over repeated trials or
observations.
Example:
Find the mean, X P(X)
variance and the 0 0.125
standard 1 0.375
deviation of the
given discrete 2 0.375
probability 3 0.125
distribution.
 X P(X) 𝐗 ∙ P(X) 𝐗𝟐 𝐗 𝟐 ∙ 𝐏(𝐗)

0 0.125 0 0 0
Solution

1 0.375 0.375 1 0.375

2 0.375 0.75 4 1.5

3 0.125 0.375 9 1.125

σ[X∙P(X)] = 1.5 σ[ X 2 ∙P(X)] = 3

SOLUTION: Variance:
σ 2= σ[ X 2
∙P(X)] - μ2
Mean:
μ = E(X) = σ[X ∙ P(X)] = 3 – 1.52
μ = 1.5 2
σ = 0.75
This means that the Standard Deviation:
average number of σ = σ 2
X ∙ P(X) − μ 2

tails that will come out σ = 0.75

is 1.5 or 2 σ = 0.87
Example:
Number of Cars Sold
X P(X) The number of cars sold per
0 0.1 day at a local car dealership, along
1 0.2 with its corresponding probabilities,
is shown in the succeeding table.
2 0.3 Compute the mean, variance and
3 0.2 the standard deviation of the
4 0.2 probability distribution
 X P(X) 𝐗 ∙ P(X) 𝐗𝟐 𝐗 𝟐 ∙ 𝐏(𝐗)

0 0.1 0 0 0
Solution
1 0.2 0.2 1 0.2
2 0.3 0.6 4 1.2
3 0.2 0.6 9 1.8
4 0.2 0.8 16 3.2
σ[X∙P(X)] = 2.2 σ[ X 2 ∙P(X)] = 6.4
SOLUTION: Variance:
Mean: σ2 = [ X ∙P(X)] - μ
σ 2 2

= 6.4 – 2.22
μ = E(X) = σ[X ∙ P(X)] σ = 1.56
2
μ = 2.2 Standard Deviation:
This means that the
σ = σ X 2 ∙ P(X) − μ2
average number of
cars sold in a day is σ = 1.56
2.2 or 2 σ = 1.25
Generalization
•What are the step-by-step procedure on
how to calculate the mean and variance
of a given probability distribution?
•How to interpret the mean and variance
in real-life contexts?
•How can we use this lesson in our daily
life?
Real-Life Examples: Business: The mean number of
customers visiting a store per day helps businesses
plan resources, such as staffing and inventory.
Example: If the mean is 50 customers per day, the
store can expect roughly 50 customers daily, even if
some days have fewer or more.
Education: The mean score on a test indicates the
average performance of students.
Example: If the mean score is 85, it suggests that
most students are scoring around this value.
Your Turn! No. of Cakes Probability of a Cakes
per day being Sold in a day
The number of X P(X)
cakes per day at a
0 0.2
local bakery, along
with its 1 0.1
corresponding 2 0.2
probabilities, is
shown in the 3 0.3
succeeding table. 4 0.2
QUESTIONS:
X P(X) 𝐗 ∙ P(X) 𝐗𝟐 𝐗 𝟐 ∙ 𝐏(𝐗)
3. What is the mean μ of the
0 0.1 0 0 0 probability distribution?
1 0.2 0.2 1 0.2
μ =2.20
4. What is the variance of the
2 0.3 0.6 4 1.2 probability distribution?
3 0.2 0.6 9 1.8 σ =
2 1.96
5. What is the standard
4 0.2 0.8 16 3.2 deviation of the probability
distribution?
σ[X∙P(X)] = 2.2 1. σ[ X 2 ∙P(X)] = 6.8
2.

σ = 1.40